This article was originally published on September 13th, 2019.
Here is this week's dose of “5-Point Friday”. A weekly round-up of the sports news and stories that I find most interesting and enjoyable.
Collegiate news that I am interested in -
In one of the most significant strikes against the NCAA's system of amateur athletics, the California State Assembly voted 73-0 in favor of SB 206. The Fair Pay to Play Act would allow college athletes in the state to sign endorsement deals; earn compensation based on the usage of their name, image, and likeness; and sign all types of licensing contracts that would allow them to earn money.
Article I have been interested in -
The BBC article In pictures: The ancient ballgame making a comeback, opened up my mind to conducting more research into the ancient Mesoamerican sport of Ulama. The images in the article highlight how interesting this sport could be, giving me ideas to research how I could see the sport being played out live. I also found this video which offered some more interesting information.
Athletics news that I am following -
After Caster Semenya (@caster800m) lost her fight on being able to compete in athletics, without taking testosterone-reducing drugs following a rule change by the IAAF, the two-time Olympic 800m gold medallist joined South African women's soccer team, JVW FC.
What I've been listening to -
Pico Iyer's (@PicoIyer) TED Talk 'What ping-pong taught me about life'. Iyer shares his path to learning that the score of a game is not truly important. Furthermore, Iyer explored the story of Polish table-tennis player Alojzy Ehrlich, who was saved from the Auschwitz gas chamber after a Nazi guard recognized him as a world champion.
Soccer news that I am paying attention to -
Relevent Sports, the organizer of the annual pre-season International Champions Cup, has started a legal case against US soccer authorities, a move that could bring the prospect of European league matches being played in the USA closer.
Relevent Sports tried to arrange a La Liga game between Barcelona and Girona in January but the plan was scrapped due to widespread opposition. In court papers lodged in New York, Relevent argues the USSF is acting in an anti-competitive manner.
Have a wonderful weekend, all!
Jonathan